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Conducted Feb. 13 by the Navy and U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA), an Aegis "launch on remote" test used tracking data from the Space Tracking and Surveillance System-Demonstrators satellites to form a fire control solution for the missile interceptor. The satellites were built by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) as prime contractor; Raytheon supplied the infrared sensor payloads for both satellites.

The quality and accuracy of STSS-D tracking data were sufficient for a Navy Aegis guided missile cruiser to launch a Standard Missile-3 Block 1A interceptor "on remote" before the on-board radar's track could be used to launch the interceptor.

"This test shows decisively that space-based sensors are a ballistic missile's worst nightmare," said Doug Young, vice president, missile defense and warning, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, Redondo Beach, Calif. "The mature technologies onboard both STSS-D satellites are demonstrating capabilities like continuous missile tracking that are possible only from the high ground of space."

During the test, designated FTM-20, the satellites leveraged their low-Earth orbit position to acquire and track the missile target and deliver the data via the Ballistic Missile Defense System to an Aegis cruiser at sea to quickly form a firing solution and launch the SM-3 1A interceptor.

"Aegis launch on remote essentially expands the area an Aegis cruiser can defend by leveraging satellite data to engage the threat earlier. This is a true 'force multiplier' because it uses existing interceptors," said David Bloodgood, the company's STSS program manager. "The STSS-D satellites demonstrated that future low Earth Orbit space capabilities can be a force multiplier for existing missile defense systems."